Organized by the China Media Group and the Economists' Platform, the "Belt and Road 10 Years Old: Hand in Hand on the Road to Development" event brought together many diplomats, journalists, academics and university students.
The 2013th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the world in 10, is being celebrated in Turkey with various events. Organized by the China Media Group and the Economists' Platform, the "Belt and Road 10 Years Old: Hand in Hand on the Road to Development" event brought together many diplomats, journalists, academics and university students.
At the event held at Taksim Hill Hotel, China's Ambassador to Turkey Liu Shaobin, Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation President Mr. Akkan Suver, China Media Group Head of Asian and African Languages Broadcasting Center An Xiaoyu, NTV Content Coordination Director Cengizhan Kocahan and Economy Journalists Association. President Recep Erçin took place as a speaker. Ambassador Sözen Usluer and Chinese Acting Consul General in Istanbul Wu Jian drew attention among the diplomats who followed the event. CRI Türk's Editor-in-Chief Muzaffer Güsar gave the closing speech of the event, with Dr. Pelin Sönmez did it.
In his speech, Chinese Ambassador to Turkey Liu Shaobin pointed out that Turkey was one of the first participants of the Belt and Road Initiative and reminded that “the Belt and Road and the Middle Corridor were harmonized”. Emphasizing that China is the main trade partner of more than 140 countries, more than a thousand investors are settled in China a day, and the country has a middle class of over 400 million, Liu Shaobin told the Turkish public, "We will explore opportunities together." he called.
Modernization cannot be reduced to westernization
Chinese Ambassador to Turkey Liu Shaobin also brought up “Chinese modernization” in his speech. Reminding that the population of over 1,4 billion has entered the path of modernization as an "inevitable choice", Liu Shaobin said that China's achievements will return as a contribution to the human family. Talking about the main features of Chinese modernization, the Ambassador listed them as “a huge population, common prosperity, harmony between human-nature and material-spiritual values”. Liu Shaobin stated that China shapes all processes on the basis of peaceful policies.
Ambassador Liu Shaobin stated that the Chinese people chose the path of modernism in their own unique circumstances and that modernization cannot be reduced to Westernization, "It is necessary to respect the path chosen by the rights of different countries." said. Underlining that China's modernization adventure is also a source of confidence for developing countries with large populations, Ambassador Liu Shaobin said that Beijing administration will insist on the concept of "human destiny unity".
Stating that China contributed to international stability with the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, which he announced to the international public, the Ambassador cited the Saudi Arabian-Iranian peace, which was hosted by Beijing, as an example.
“One of the four speakers was Mr. Erdogan”
The second speech of the Belt and Road: Hand in Hand on the Development Road event, Akkan Suver, President of the Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation, evaluated the initiative announced by China to the world, based on his own experiences.
Akkan Suver, who was present at the two big signing ceremonies of the Belt and Road Initiative, said, “Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took part in the signing ceremony, together with representatives from nearly 100 countries. 4 people gave speeches at the opening ceremony. These people were Chinese President Xi Jinping, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The People's Republic of China attached extraordinary importance to Turkey and highly valued it.” used the phrase.
“The world is facing the reality of Eurasia”
“We are not friends because we do business, we do business because we are friends.” Referring to a Chinese proverb with his words, Akkan Suver noted that the increasing closeness between the countries is reflected on the field as a concrete cooperation. Evaluating that the Ankara administration has accelerated its efforts to harmonize with the Belt and Road in the country with the Marmaray, Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, Akkan Suver said that with the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, Turkey has strengthened its status as a strategic bridge between Asia and Europe.
Akkan Suver, President of Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation, stated that Emerging Asia comes with opportunities and said, “Today, the world is faced with the possibility of peace in Eurasia. Languages will recognize languages, religions will recognize religions. The Silk Road is a peace project.” said.
Emotional earthquake memory: Heroes are the people
Another key speaker of the Belt and Road seminar was An Xiaoyu, Head of the Center for Asian and African Languages, China Media Group. Starting his speech by saying that he came to Istanbul for the first time, An Xiaoyu described his first impression by saying, "I feel like I've entered history." Saying that he follows Turkey closely, An Xiaoyu said that "Turkey is among the most important points connecting the West and the East." explained in words.
An Xiaoyu, Head of the Center for Asian and African Languages of the China Media Group, underlined that not only the history but also the future was discussed at the event held on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road, and brought up the “unity of destiny of humanity”. Noting that people can live together despite differences, An Xiaoyu said that the unity of destiny is based on joint consultation and sharing. In this sense, the Chinese official reminded that his country has brought up the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative as a public product.
Expressing that the Western world misreads China and excludes the path it has chosen, An Xiaoyu, Head of the Center for Asian and African Languages of the China Media Group, said in this note that members of the press have a responsibility.
Inviting journalists to China, An Xiaoyu also shared an observation about the Turkish media at the event. Reminding that a journalist was caught in the aftershock during the earthquake and took action at that moment to save a small child, An Xiaoyu said, "The real heroes are ordinary people, the people." he said.
“Let's create a media corridor”
In the Belt and Road event, he took the floor at the podium with an important name from the Turkish press world. NTV Content Coordination Director Cengizhan Kocahan noted that the historical Silk Road, which started in Xi'an 2150 years ago, passed through Istanbul and stretched to Rome, established strong ties. “The two ends of the world now know each other better, and today, the direction and spirit are the same as in the past.” made its assessment.
In the continuation of his speech, Kocahan reminded that China and Turkey were by each other's side in difficult times and said, “There was an earthquake in China in 2008. We saw Turkish teams there. In February 2023, after the earthquake in Turkey, we found China's Blue Sky search and rescue team with us.” said.
In his speech, President of the Economy Journalists Association Recep Erçin stated that there is a need for more harmonization in areas such as legislation and infrastructures in order to further strengthen the Middle Corridor located on the Belt and Road line. Emphasizing that “Globalization has become more democratic” thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative and China's role here, Recep Erçin said, “Turkey is one of the pillars of this initiative.” he said. In the last part of his speech, Erçin suggested that not only a trade and investment but also a media corridor should be established between Belt and Road countries.